Eight ways for your students to get ahead this Christmas

The Christmas holidays are a great chance for students to gain valuable experience that’ll look fab on future applications.

Joanne from Expert Home Tips has put together a list of activities that students can get involved in. Participation in any of these fields will give students an edge in whatever they decide to do, and they might even earn a bit of money!
 

1. Volunteering

Do-it is a helpful database of local opportunities that’ll help students to find the right opportunity for them. There’s even an option to filter by time of day.

Volunteering is perfect for those who can’t commit loads of time alongside studies. It’s very flexible, with both one-off and more consistent vacancies. The positions vary from working in care homes and libraries to charity shops and heritage sites.
 

2. Work experience

It’s never too early to get work experience. As well as helping students to decide what they want to do later in life, it could also help them to make some valuable connections.  

The best way for students to find a company willing to host them is by contacting anyone they’re interested in working with directly. They can use the Unifrog Apprenticeships tool to search for local employees, and we have plenty of Know-how guides to help them nail their application.
 

3. Set up a blog, Instagram account, or YouTube channel

You could suggest that your students set up an online platform of their own. It’s a brilliant way for them to showcase their interests and practise their editing skills.

A blog might be a good way to go, but with the way social networks are developing, it could be equally beneficial for them to set up an Instagram account or a YouTube channel dedicated to their chosen passion (e.g. fitness).

Even if they don’t think they’ll pursue the interest as a career, documenting a hobby proves that their interests are genuine and helps them to develop skills in writing, video, and photography. They might even find that it takes off!
 

4. Travel

Travelling doesn’t have to be far or expensive. Whether it’s a day trip or a longer getaway, seeing more of the world is always an advantage. 

If a student can successfully organise a trip by themselves, it’ll show that they’re great at managing time and a budget. If they’re able to travel abroad, there could also be the opportunity to develop their language skills. Under 18s won’t be able to stay in a hotel without a guardian, but they can still take the lead in making plans.
 

5. Get a part-time job

Not all students can commit to a part-time job during their studies, but Christmas is a great time to get a temporary role. A lot of high street retailers will be looking to take on extra staff for the seasonal period.
 

6. Contact role models on LinkedIn

The Christmas holidays can be a great opportunity to spend time on curating an online profile, and one of the best ways to do this is through LinkedIn. This site connects people from all over the world based on their employment and education.

Students can easily search for certain companies or their place of study to find people of interest. It’s worth dropping that person a message, mentioning the connection and seeing if they have any advice on how to get on the ladder.
 

7. Fundraise

Fundraising is a great way to do good while having fun and trying something new. They could raise money with something conventional like a bike ride or go for something unusual like an auction of promises. Popular fundraising sites include JustGiving, GoFundMe, and Wonderful.

8. Work on their CV

Writing a CV or a covering letter can be a real pain – it’s best for students to start early and develop it as they learn and evolve – the holidays are a perfect time to get this done!

Encourage them to make use of any careers services available to get their CV checked over, and of course we have a super useful CV guide here!

And finally...

Whilst it’s always great to get ahead, the holidays are really a time for relaxing and ironing out any academic hurdles. If there is time to spare, however, one of these activities is sure to impress a future employer or university – remind your students to record their experiences using Unifrog's Activities tool so they can easily refer to them on future applications.